Michigan Criminal Defense Attorneys

About Charges of Stalking

The state of Michigan defines stalking as "a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuous harassment of another individual...that causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested."

The key to this definition is found in the words "repeated or continuous." A stalker is generally someone who harasses his victim over an extended period of time (the national average being about two years.) Stalkers can be female, but are primarily male, and most stalkers harass former girlfriends, boyfriends, or domestic partners. A much smaller percentage of stalkers terrorize public figures, celebrities or random strangers, and are usually found to be mentally ill.

Drawing the attention of a stalker can be a terrifying experience because the attention involves more than just following someone home. Often repeated attempts to make contact are made with a stalker disrupting daily life by calling at odd hours or showing up at work, etc. Many stalkers are adept at uncovering supposedly private information such as addresses and telephone numbers of friends and family related to the person being stalked.

Although most stalkers are harmless nuisances intending no harm, some graduate from stalking their victims to assaulting, or even murdering, them. It is largely for this reason that Michigan law treats "repeated or continuous" stalking as a serious crime.

Michigan Law: Two Kinds of Stalking

Michigan distinguishes between two kinds of stalking. On the less harmful end of the spectrum is misdemeanor stalking, which is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. However, if the victim is under the age of 18 and the stalker is more than five years older, the penalty for a conviction of stalking is up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Aggravated stalking is a more serious crime that may be charged as a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. If the victim is under the age of 18 a convicted stalker can be sentenced to 10 years in prison and assessed a $15,000 fine.

A conviction for felony stalking can also result in an indefinite period of probation, to make sure the offender is not in the vicinity of his former victim.

Violating a Personal Protection Order

One of the legal remedies people seek when they believe they are being stalked is to obtain a Personal Protection order (PPO) against the alleged stalker. If you violate a PPO the police have grounds to arrest the stalker for continued harassment.

Penalties for a violation in the course of the PPO will subject the stalker to up to 93 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Michigan Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers For An Aggressive Legal Defense Against Stalking and Violating a PPO

If you have been accused or convicted of stalking, your Grabel lawyer can defend your rights, and possibly petition the court for a mental-health evaluation which might result in a less severe prison sentence, contingent upon receiving psychological help.

A. Scott Grabel & Associates will also defend you if you feel you have been unfairly accused of stalking, as occasionally happens in the context of impending divorce cases, or after a bad breakup.

For a free initial consultation to discuss how our Michigan stalking crimes and PPO violations defense lawyers can help you, call us toll-free at 1-800-342-7896, or you can use the form on our website to Email our law firm.